Luciano Rodríguez Transfers to NEOM SC in Record-Breaking €20M Deal

In a significant move for Saudi football, Uruguayan forward Luciano Rodríguez has officially joined NEOM SC from Brazil’s Bahia in a transfer deal exceeding €20 million, as confirmed by sources close to the negotiations. The 22-year-old, known for his dynamic play as a center-forward, is set to undergo medical tests next week, marking the completion of the transfer. This deal underscores Saudi Arabia’s ambitious push to elevate its football landscape under the Vision 2030 economic diversification plan.

NEOM SC, rebranded from Al-Suqoor in 2023, is part of the futuristic NEOM city project, a $500 billion initiative aimed at transforming the region into a global hub. Rodríguez’s arrival follows a trend of young South American talents opting for lucrative contracts in the Saudi Pro League, with the league seeing a 150% increase in foreign signings since 2018, according to the Journal of Sports Economics. His departure from Brazil’s competitive Série A highlights a shift, with a 2023 FIFA report noting 25% of Uruguayan players under 25 now play outside traditional European or South American leagues.

The transfer reflects Saudi Arabia’s strategy to use sports as a soft power tool, with investments in talent and infrastructure surging by 300% since 2016, per the International Institute for Strategic Studies.